Page 34 of Mine to Love

“I’m sorry, Miss Elliot, but I thought the details went out in your preliminary paperwork. The interview is followed by a three-day in-person project and presentation. The job entails a great deal of creative manipulation with numbers. You’ll be given scenarios and situations to solve and present them to the committee at the end of the three days. We won’t throw you to the wolves without training you first though,” Doug laughs.

“I can make it work.” I think about my father and the care he’ll need. I can make some dinners and freeze them... I rub my temples again. Dad has Mariah now. He doesn’t need me twenty-four-seven, which is a blessing. And possibly a curse.

“Is Bangor your airport of choice? It looks like Portland is a bit further from you.”

“Yes, Bangor. Where will I be flying to? I’m not sure what flights I’ll be able to find last minute.” I’ve only been on a plane once. After graduating from high school, we all went to Disney World.

And then my mother and sister died.

“No need to worry about a thing, Miss Elliot. I’ll make your flight and hotel arrangements, and you’ll have a food stipend as well.”

“Oh.” I had hoped the company would reimburse me for the travel but planning it for me is even better.

“Is the email on your resume the one you’d like your itinerary sent to?”

“Yes, please.”

“Excellent. Expect an email from me within the hour. I look forward to meeting you Monday morning.”

As soon as he disconnects, the clunk of my father’s cane echoes down the hallway. “Congratulations, peanut.”

“Thanks, Dad.” We haven’t talked much about the scene from last week, but we have talked about Mariah. She’s embarrassed, no doubt.

“I don’t want you giving me a second thought. You have a bright future ahead of you, and I’ll be damned if I get in the way of that.”

“Dad, you’re never in the way.”

He lets out a robust laugh. “Peanut, you gave up your twenties for me. Your education. Your career. I hope to god not your love life. I want you happy. Go pursue this new opportunity.”

“The interview is in Texas though.”

“I heard. Sounds like it’s only the training though, right. From what you told me the other day, the job will be mostly in Maine with a little bit of travel.”

“A little to some may be a lot for me.”

“Good. Go explore the world, peanut. You’ve been cooped up with your old man for too long.”

“It sounds like you’re trying to get rid of me.”

He hobbles to my side of the counter and gives me one of his infamous bear hugs. “Never. But I also don’t want to hold you back.”

I hold my father for an extra moment before releasing him. “Be honest. You and Mariah just want the house to yourselves.”

He chuckles and tugs at the ends of my hair. “Your father’s old, not dead. My sex drive is—”

I close my eyes and cover her ears. “Blah, blah, blah. Don’t say that word in this house. Ever.” I lower my hands and open my eyes. “You can have a girlfriend, but I’m going to pretend all you do is hold hands and give each other an innocent goodnight kiss.”

“I’ve been pretending the same thing about you since you were in high school.”

“You really like her, don’t you?”

“Yeah, peanut, I really do. She’s not replacing your mother, but she makes me happy. I’ve been missing that kind of companionship, and I’ve regretted holding you back from living your best life.”

“Daddy.” I hug him again, resting my head on his shoulder. “I don’t regret a single day with you. I love you more than life itself.”

“You’re my world, Reese. You’re my entire universe.”

Over dinner, we share stories of long ago when we were a happy family of four, laughing at the wonderful memories we created. When he goes to bed, I take a shower then climb into bed and open my laptop. At the top of my email is one from Doug Timms at Pierce Financials.

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